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VANCOUVER — Back in BC Place Stadium on Friday for the first time in five weeks – a stretch longer than the sure-to-be interminable provincial election campaign — Vancouver Whitecaps head coach Martin Rennie joked about being a bit lost.

“It’s a long time. I had to remind myself where my office was this morning,” cracked the skipper after the Caps practised in advance of Saturday afternoon’s MLS matchup with Real Salt Lake (1 p.m., TSN, Team 1410).

He found it. Now, he just has to hope his players can reacquaint themselves with their opponent’s net.

When the 2-2-1 Caps last left the friendly confines of the remodelled old mushroom cap at False Creek, they were dismantling the Columbus Crew 2-1 in a game that was notable for the number of terrific chances that Vancouver didn’t convert.

The Caps had a bye the following week, then three consecutive road games — two losses and a tie — in which they scored a total of three goals. Not disastrous by any means, but not up to the promise shown against the Crew when newcomer Daigo Kobayashi scored on a cracker of a shot from long range and Kenny Miller picked the pocket of a Columbus centre back and scored on a quick breakaway.

It hasn’t helped the offensive attack that Miller, perhaps Vancouver’s best player in their first two games, has only played 30 minutes in the last three, missing one game to an international call-up and another to a hamstring problem. He only returned to practice on Thursday and remains questionable for Saturday.

Rennie, who surprised some by sitting striker Darren Mattocks and midfielder Gershon Koffie in a 1-1 tie in San Jose last Saturday, wouldn’t, as is customary on the day before the game, name his starting 11. But it seems likely both those players will be back in the starting lineup against RSL.

Mattocks, the explosive youngster in just his second MLS season, surely noticed that his replacement, Corey Hertzog, ran miles chasing down defenders and trying to work himself into the right channels.

Hertzog, who missed practice earlier this week with an illness, did get only one shot on net against San Jose, although he coolly converted for the goal as the Caps took advantage of San Jose being down to nine men with two on the sidelines changing their boots.

Rennie said Mattocks has been lively in practice this week.

“He’s done well. He’s looked good in training. He’s looked confident, been finishing most of his chances, working hard.”

While Mattocks figures to be jacked up at getting back into the starting lineup, the entire club should be energized by the return to home turf in front of a crowd of raucous supporters.

“It’s nice to be back home, definitely,” Reo-Coker said Friday.

“That’ll help us start at a high tempo. If we’re honest with ourselves, as well as we played the past couple of games, we haven’t started well the first 10-15 minutes. If we can get rid of that, get that out of our game and make sure that we start with good tempo, we should get lots of chances and go on to get the three points, which is the most important thing.”

Veteran goalkeeper Joe Cannon said it’s been tough to find a rhythm early this season with the three consecutive road games. But he was encouraged by the way the club stood up to the Earthquakes’ physical play and then barred the door in stoppage time when San Jose put the Caps under intense pressure.

“When you’re grinding out a tough result ... it builds confidence for the rest of the year and for what you’re trying to accomplish and that’s what we’re hoping last week did,” said Cannon. “To come back home, hopefully we’ll be on our front foot more.”

Real Salt Lake, which is 2-3-1 on the season, has already played four road games and been shutout in three of them. But they have been one of MLS’s strongest clubs over the last few seasons and like to play the same possession game that the Caps have focused on.

“We are doing a better job of that this season and it’s an interesting storyline to see how the possession will go,” said Rennie. “Both teams like to do it and Salt Lake are one of the best at it.

“At the end of it all, though, I wouldn’t mind if we have no possession, but we win the game. That’s my No. 1 concern. But I’d like to have possession and win. That would be my ideal.”

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